Life-saving apparatus.



, A Pafented Dec. 2, I902. J. STRAKELE.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug; 4, 1902.)

- I inventor WZLfiIZJ'JMJ 4 g z ITED .TATES 1 Application filed August4. 1902.

m, it may concern.-

wn that I, JOHN STrtAKELE, a submperor of Austria-H u ngary, and f theborough of Manhattan, city, i State of New York, haveinvented and usefulImprovements in Lifearatus, of which the following is r, andexactspecification.

tion relates to life-saving appahas for its object to provide a dekindwith as few parts as possinsive to construct, and effectual ratusincludes, essentially, a cenrtment to receive the body of the g anoverhanging flange with dens. and two inflatable sections deabout saidcom partment provided gs adapted to be registered with e saidpins andwith additional ecuring the same about said comntion further includesthe parts, n of parts, and details of construcereinafter described, andparticud out in the claims. bing my invention I will refer to anyingdrawings, wherein like letrence refer to like parts througheral views.

is a perspective view of the entire ig. 2 is a side perspective View offor the lower limbs. Fig. 3 is a a view of one part of the float, and .0etail perspective view of a sliding for adjusting the floats.

sed in the accompanying drawings, compartment or casing, which is theletter B, is tubular in form, d bottom I), and is provided with gingannular flange O at the upper vertical wall. From the under flange aplurality of equidistant el-pins D depend.

I which when inflated is preferably (1 consists of two parts E F, eachning a pocket G for the reception of food, drink, 850. Each part or hefloat is curved or dished at its conform to the periphery of thepartment or casing, about which AKELE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

MARTIN SCHlVENK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

" FFICE.

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOI-IANN LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,757, dated December 2,1902,

Serial No. 118383. No models the same are intended to snugly fit. Oilthe upper part of each float near its inner edge is a series of openingsor holes 11, into which the dowel-pins D engage. Each float is providedwith a valve-controlled opening I, into which an air-pump for injectingair into the floats may be inserted.

On the exterior of each side of the float E is a series of studs J withenlarged heads, which are adapted to engage with openings K in a slidingpiece L on the float F. The sliding pieces L are mortised a part oftheir length and the pieces M, secured to the float F, pass through themortise, retain the sliding pieces, and permit of their having a slidingmotion for a predetermined distance. Anut N is provided to clamp thesliding piece and preventits moving after it has once been adjusted. 7c

The floats E and F are made of any waterproof material, preferablycaoutchouc, and I have found that the best results may be obtained fromthe device if it is made boatshaped. The casing B may be in either onepiece, as shown in the drawings, or, if desired, may be divided and inthe form of trousers.

The operation of the life-saving apparatus is as follows: The userplaces the lower portion of his body in the casing B, and the sections ET having been inflated are clamped about said casing,'the dowel-pins Dbeing forced into the openings H. The sections are tightened about thecasing, as may be necessary, and properly secured through the me dium ofthe pins J being passed into the openings K of the sliding pieces L. Anarrangement similar to this is secured on the top of the float to moresecurely hold the two parts of the float together.

By deflating the floats E and F the entire apparatus may be folded intoa small compass and a large quantity of the life-savers may be stackedunderbunkers or in other places ,where they will not be in the way.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a central casing having anoverhanging annular flange, dowel-pins depending from the latter, andinflatable sections having openings to receive said pins, substantiallyas described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a central compartment having an overhang:

ing flange, pins depending therefrom, and inflatable sect-ions havinginner portions curved to fit against said central casing, and openingsdesigned to receive said depending pin substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a central section having anannular flange, pins depending therefrom, inflatable sections designedto fit about said casing and provided with openings to receive saidpins, and means for securing said sections together, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a life-saving apparatus the combination of a two-part float, eachpart being provided near its inner edge with openings, a casing having aflange and dowel-pins depending from said flange, said dowel-pins beingadapted to engage in the openings in the floats and secure the floatsand the casing together substantially as described.

5. In a life-saving apparatus the combination of a two-part float, acasing adapted to be secured to the float and means for holding the twoparts of the float together, said means and a sliding piece providedwith holes on the other part of the float, the studs passing into theholes of the sliding pieces to retain the parts of the float togethersubstantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN STRAKELE.

Witnesses:

R. WINTERNIT, OTTO MUNK.

